The film Inglourious Basterds opens on the breath-taking French countryside in the midst of World War Two. Immediately we are introduced to the perilous existence of Jewish families hiding from the Nazis in occupied France, as well as the Nazi's sheer brutality.
Early on we are introduced to several characters whose lives swirl around one common goal: to kill Hitler and end the Second World War. Two main story lines exist independently, one following a Jewish cinema owner and the second a group of Nazi hunters who call themselves the Basterds.
This movie moves from moments of exquisite tension into poetic justice with fluid motion. The actors were chosen for their roles with such success, that they disappear into their characters. The fact that appropriate languages were used (French, German, Italian) just lends to the believability of the story line- and puts the audience directly in the little French home, the Parisian restaurant, or the cinema with the characters.
While Brad Pitt got (well deserved) top billing, the real amazing performances belonged to Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz. Mme. Laurent's portrayal of Shosanna Dreyfus was incredibly provoking and insightful. Herr Waltz was chilling as a member of the SS whose ability to speak many languages plays directly into the tension of the movie.
In true Quentin Tarantino form Inglourious Basterds is a movie in which every scene is designed to pique our interest. Vibrant sets, witty dialogue and subtle winks to his past movies are there for the true Tarantino fan. While it's my opinion that the soundtrack is lacking when compared to Tarantino's past genius, the movie has many interesting musical components.
While this movie may not be for the faint-of-heart (containing Tarantino’s standard level of violence), it should not be missed! This re-imagination of the closing days of World War II makes those of us who have watched it sit back and think "What if?" Immediately followed by "I have to watch that again." ~ Emily Z. Brown
